Calling Balls and Strikes: Umpire School vs Common Practice

[ilyazhito]

I umpire both baseball and softball, and one can say that I have an unusual style in baseball: I use the umpire-school heel-toe position to get set to call balls and strikes, I call the pitches by number (I call "Ball One!" "Strike One!", etc.), and I call strikes by pointing. I was initially taught to use the hammer, but I could not assimilate to using it initially, because of the uncaught third strike scenario. I now know the work-around that softball and umpire school uses (call strike 3, signal safe, and say "No catch!").

However, I know that most umpires do not call pitches by numbers, except for Ball Four and Strike Three. Some (those who have had exposure to umpire school, probably) do use numbers, but it is not the norm in any level of baseball besides professional umpire school and the short-season minor leagues. Personally, I use the numbers because it helps me to remember the sequence of pitches in longer at-bats, and keeps me on track if I forget to click the dials on my indicator. I also use numbers because it is what will be expected of me if I go to umpire school.

Why do the umpire schools teach calling balls and strikes by numbers, if it is not common practice in the other levels of baseball? Do they want to produce standard umpires who can easily be evaluated? Do they want the umpires to keep the count in their heads without relying on their indicators? Or is there another reason for this practice?

[michblue]

Per umpires I know that have went to or taught at umpire schools, the school's teach the way they do so everyone is graded equally and fairly.

[ilyazhito]

OK. I get that they want standard umpires, but did they just come up with the numbers on their own, to be different, or was calling balls and strikes by number a common practice that just faded away, remaining only in the umpire schools and lower-level pro baseball?

[thumpferee]

Originally Posted by ilyazhito

OK. I get that they want standard umpires, but did they just come up with the numbers on their own, to be different, or was calling balls and strikes by number a common practice that just faded away, remaining only in the umpire schools and lower-level pro baseball?

Don't fight the system! Do what they ask you to do and do it better than everyone else. THEN you can use the same BASIC phylosophy and make it your own once you get there!

[ilyazhito]

The previous post is a non sequitur. Of course I will do things the umpire school way in umpire school (and hopefully in the lower levels of minor league baseball). My question was whether calling balls and strikes by numbers was a practice specifically created by umpire schools, or was it a more common practice that died out outside Umpire School World and the lower levels of Minor League Baseball, where umpires are evaluated by Ump School standards?

[CT1]

From personal experience: Numbering strikes, while uncommon, is not rare. OTOH, I've never worked with anyone that call balls by number.